Parks plan outlines $758M for projects From the cover
How we got here
What you need to know
Following redistricting in 2022, Harris County Pre- cinct 3 encompasses 555 square miles including 4,200 acres of parkland and 3,400 acres of greenway—the most of any precinct countywide. To maintain and improve upon the precinct’s existing green space and prepare for anticipated population growth, Precinct 3 o cials began working on a parks and trails master plan in 2022. As part of the master plan, Precinct 3 o cials completed an outreach phase to assess the needs and desires of the community, which included six meetings and an online survey conducted last fall. “Thank you to the residents who took time to provide us feedback,” Ramsey said. “They know their parks and trails better than anyone, so we’re con - dent in the information incorporated into the plan.” The parks and trails master plan assesses both cur- rent and future needs for the area’s parks and trails network. The analysis will inform the recommenda- tions process that has a baseline framework for the next 30 years, according to plan documents.
Lewis said. “We’ve really outgrown the courts.” The county’s plan also recommends 57 miles of trail projects totaling $125 million, the majority of which aim to build upon the existing Spring Creek and Cypress Creek greenways with a greenway project along Willow Creek also proposed. “I can just imagine a [Spring Creek] trail that extends from Kingwood to Tomball,” said Jill Boullion, executive director of the Bayou Land Conservancy, which focuses on land conversation in the Lake Houston watershed. “I think Willow Creek has really been overlooked. I really feel like … millions of people will use [the greenways] every year; it’ll be amazing.”
Recommendations for the Spring service area include new facilities, natural features and renovations, per plan documents. Speci c costs for projects were not provided. In Tomball, adding tennis and pickleball courts at Burroughs Park and converting the basketball court to tennis and/or pickleball courts at Matthews Park is recommended. Tomball resident Ellen Lewis said she believes there’s not enough pickleball courts to meet demand. She said she began playing with a group in May at city-owned Juergens Park, and nightly attendance has tripled since. “The coolest thing about this sport is we’re playing with grade school kids, high school kids, all the way up to people in their 60s,”
Spring service area recommendations*
Cost breakdown
Number of projects
Long-term projects (20+ years): 2 Medium-term projects (10-20 years): 25
Precinct 3 service areas • Existing parkland: 1,102 acres • Existing greenway: 46 acres • Population growth by 2045: +131% Cypress service area • Existing parkland: 779 acres • Existing greenway: 1,456 acres • Population growth by 2045: +59% Spring service area • Existing parkland: 778 acres • Existing greenway: 0 acres • Population growth by 2045: +294% Crosby service area • Existing parkland: 1,572 acres • Existing greenway: 1,911 acres • Population growth by 2045: +95% Humble service area
Natural parks features: $2.65M Park renovations: $21.38M New parks facilities: $20.15M
Short-term projects (less than 10 years): 40
Total: 67
Total: $169.18M
*TOMBALL PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE SPRING SERVICE AREA.
Tomball-area parks & trails projects
1 100 Acre Wood Preserve*: relocate parking lot; add covered benches and a restroom; extend trails 2 A.D. Dyess Park*: develop more sports elds; add parking and playground 3 Burroughs Park: add playground, covered pavilions, tennis/pickleball courts, a covered basketball pavilion and outdoor covered tness gym; build community center; add parking 4 Kickerillo-Mischer Park Preserve: install a larger pavilion; extend trails; add a restroom 5 Mathews Park: convert basketball court to tennis and/or pickleball courts; install tness stations around trail; replace playground 6 Spring Creek Greenway: extend trail from The Woodlands to Lone Star College-Tomball 7 Willow Creek: create a new greenway corridor connecting neighborhoods to Spring Creek Greenway *PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE CYPRESS SERVICE AREA. MOST TOMBALL AREA PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE SPRING SERVICE AREA.
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Tomball
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HUFSMITH KUYKENDAHL RD.
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45
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HUFSMITH RD.
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249
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99
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HUFSMITH KOHRVILLE RD.
290
45
249
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99 TOLL
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10
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HARRIS COUNTY
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 3 PARKS AND TRAILS MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 3 PARKS AND TRAILS MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY IMPACT
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